A two-day European Union (EU) summit ended yesterday in Brussels without agreement on the war in Syria, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada, or Britain’s exit from the EU: here.

For the first time in twenty years a wreathed hornbill (Rhyticeros undulatus) egg has hatched in the zoo. In 1996 a chick hatched for the last time. Wreathed hornbills make a nest in a special way. The couple builds a nest in a hollow tree where the female is completely immured [for protection against predators] with only a small hole to the outside world. The male during breeding feeds the female through this hole.

If there’s a chick, the male’s task of bringing food doubles. After more than three months the chick and mother together will break out of the nest. It therefore takes a while before the chick will be flying in the Birdhouse in Artis. Until then the public from Friday, May 13th, on will be able to follow the progress of the young wreathed hornbill through a camera on a screen at the birds’ compound.

Dutch NOS TV reports that during a demonstration in Amsterdam today by the originally German Islamophobic anti-refugee organisation Pegida, police have arrested the leader of the Dutch Pegida branch, Edwin Wagensveld. Police did that because Edwin Wagensveld carried a nazi swastika banner (illegal in the Netherlands) and refused to hide it from public sight.

This is the fifth baby giant anteater born in Artis since 2008. Artis plays a role in an international program to conserve this rare species. As it is still cold outside, the anteater mother and her young will stay inside for the time being.

On 16 February, a young vicuña was born in the same South American animals compound in Artis. The vicuña was born outside, as these mountain animals are more used to cold than anteaters are.